Florida state health officials reported an additional 53 outbreak hepatitis A cases during the week ending Oct. 12.
This brings the total for 2019 to 2,791 and 3,339 since the outbreak started in the beginning of 2018.
43 deaths have been reported through Sep, 30.
The counties reporting the most cases this year include some in the Tampa Bay area- Pasco (398), Pinellas (369), Hillsborough (149) and Manatee (124).
Nationally, since the outbreaks were first identified in 2016, 30 states have reported more than 27,000 hepatitis A cases, with 60 percent requiring hospitalization. 275 deaths have been reported.
Hepatitis C: A Complete Guide for Patients and Families
The CDC says the hepatitis A vaccine is the best way to prevent hepatitis A infection.
The following groups are at highest risk for acquiring hepatitis A infection or developing serious complications from infection in these outbreaks and should be offered the hepatitis A vaccine in order to prevent or control an outbreak:
- People who use drugs (injection or non-injection)
- People experiencing unstable housing or homelessness
- Men who have sex with men (MSM)
- People who are currently or were recently incarcerated
- People with chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C
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